Links

Followers

Sunday, January 07, 2007

Thought of scribing a serious subject, after a long time. This time its the discriminations in the society. India is one country which has a good reservation scheme in place for those who face discriminations. But is it actually helping who wants it or is it oppressing a clan of people who deserve it more? I am not mentioning about any religion or caste or any such man made barriers.

The actual barrier seperating the people is -1. Money2. MentalityThere is always rich and poor, as Earth is no Utopia. But many-a-times, may be, living in a middle class, I have seen that the people are more frustrated than oppressed by the money.

All these thoughts came to me today, when I visited my usual Kerala mess where I have my lunch. For a change I decided to go in my car, so that I can move to my office from there directly. Bangalore is quite popular for its parking problems. But luckily I was able to find an open space to park. Between my lunch, some localites came to the mess and asked whose car is parked improperly. The hotlier said there is no one here having a car. I said it is mine and I apologized for it and said I'll move it as my lunch is almost over. They went off saying 'OK'.

Feeling bad, I left my lunch half way through, and went back to the car. There were again few more localites near the car, as if they were at a crime scene or something. One of the youngest in the group started firing at me. I can only understand Kannada and not speak it. He was telling me that I have parked it improperly, it is their place and all. But it was an open space, near to the mess and I happened to realize that there was a small slum like dwelling in the back of the mess. I apologized again. Hearing me telling sorry, he started shouting angrily again, as if I had asked him to "**** off" (sorry for being so expressive). I did not intend to fight again. I silently took my car and drove off.

Who is the oppressed here? Who is being discriminated here? And did I do a true crime, which can't be forgiven, even if apologized?

2 comments:

I am not sure if I understand fully, but reading this what I feel is its more than anything its your inner guilt which is making you think so!This also tells about your naiveness :)Being in Pune, these things are very common as Pune is more for a two-wheeler than four but people do like to drive and park where ever they get a chance!I feel its no ones fault nor you neither those localities! As its about the growing needs and the lack of space! You are right at your place and so is those people!Take a pill and chill I will say :) am sure you willCheers

Juz another day whn the growing IT divide pops up tellin its no concept, instead something that repeating itself every single divide.

Let me not crib about it, i could do it for hours. Bout the Karnataka flags n Rajkumar photos on all glass structures in town...

Instead, i'll boast of what we did the other day parking our bikes in front of forum.

I for one never parks in FORUM, instead i my usual spot is an empty lot nearby, used by KSRTC to park its buses. Ofcourse to save Rs10. A guy finds his living by exhorting money outa people parking there. He's got no receipt, it aint his job, but probably ends up earning more than me over the weekends.

I hate giving money without a receipt, leave that too, i hate more the attitude of starting to swear at word 2, and the kinda amount that they fool out of naive bikers (or too rich bikers)...

I used to suffer the agony alone, and was desparately waiting for comapny. Laz weekend we were four of us, a few real tall n well built folks as well. As usual the guy asks for money, i said we paid whn we parked and kept quiet. There came the usual swearing, the usual body language gestures (only too obvious) and the usual localites coming in to support him. But this time the localities too didn have a claim. I was sayin, we did pay to some xyz when we parked.

I kept arguing, he wanted to hit me, my friend in the way blocking him. Out of nowhere, my 3rd friend juz jumped out of his seat, shouting real loud n moving in a fast movement towards this guy. Well for the 1st time he was out numbered.

As he hurried to get some company, we pulled out our bikes in no time, n left for our home.

Moral of the Story : If you do like this, you'll loose your usual parking lot. I'm waiting for the nex time i've my friends in town to park my bike there again.